Something Old: Between Victorian and Art Deco

The Edwardian period of furniture design falls in the years between Victorian and Art Deco. It is named for King Edward VII of England, who reigned from 1901 to 1910.

Some experts say it is not just the years that the furniture was made but also the design that makes it Edwardian. Some claim influences from earlier periods and say that a combination of Georgian, Victorian and Art Nouveau created the new Edwardian style.

Collectors have to rely on appearance, since it is so difficult to know exactly when a chair was made. Designers working after 1901 created a chair that looked lighter in weight than a Victorian chair and used pastels rather than dark colors. Fabrics and wallpaper with flowers became popular. Chairs had scrolled backs and legs, similar to Art Nouveau designs but thinner and less “tangled.” Bamboo and wicker were introduced, and many pieces were made of lightweight wood and mother-of-pearl inlay. Seats were made with thin padding and thin fitted cushions.

It has not been a popular style with collectors, but it's enjoyed by decorators and homeowners. Today both period and reproduction pieces are a good buy. Most are made of solid wood, not plywood, and use upholstery fabrics of damask, silk or other natural materials, not modern synthetics. A 1910 Edwardian settee sold for $344 at a Doyle New York auction this year. Chairs sell for a few hundred dollars. Sofas go for less than $500 at auction.

Q: My friend who gave me her old upright piano also gave me the antique piano shawl she always draped over the piano. It's 52 inches square and appears to be black silk crepe. It's reversible and covered in embroidered pink roses. The fringe around the whole shawl is 15 inches long, with smocking around the edge of the fabric. Is the shawl valuable?

A: Many piano shawls like yours were made in Spain in the 1890s. They sell for $50 to $100 if they're in very good condition, with full fringe and without holes.

Q: My mother-in-law gave me one of her old alligator purses. It's in great shape and has a label inside that reads “Rosenfeld.” Have you heard of that maker? How old is the purse?

A: Harry Rosenfeld was an American designer active from the 1930s into the '70s. His designs were made by several different manufacturers. The bags were sold at high-end department stores and at Harry Rosenfeld Handbags, a shop on Madison Avenue in New York City. Rosenfeld designed bags in all sorts of styles, using all kinds of materials. But it is likely that your alligator purse dates from the 1930s, '40s or '50s, when alligator bags were at the peak of their popularity. The value of your bag depends not only on designer and condition, but also on style. It could sell for less than $100 or more than $300.

Q: My dad owned a funeral home in Cincinnati and liked collecting antiques. He left me his collection of paperweights made by Crane & Breed, a Cincinnati coffin manufacturer. The paperweights include an Egyptian sarcophagus, Scottie dog, alligator, camel, frog, turtle, bear, sailboat and ghost. I don't want to sell them, but I'd like to know how old they are and what they're worth.

A: Crane & Breed took over a Cincinnati coffin-manufacturing business in 1854 and stayed in business until 1973. The company held several patents on coffins and coffin parts, and sold coffins to funeral homes in several states. Today collectors know about Crane & Breed mainly because of its collectible paperweights. From the late 1800s into the early 1900s, the company gave away promotional bronze novelty paperweights to funeral homes and their employees. Today, the sarcophagus paperweight sells for close to $400, but most of the others are going for less than $20.

Q: I own a glass dish that has a portrait of a man in the center and the words “We mourn our nation's loss” inscribed around it. There's a wide border of swags around the dish. We think the dish has something to do with President Garfield and also something to do with Vermont. It has been in our family for more than 70 years and we would like to know its history and value.

A: Your plate was made as a memorial to President James A. Garfield, who was assassinated in 1881. The center picture is a bust of Garfield. The pattern is called “Garfield Drape,” but it's sometimes called “Canadian Drape.” It has been attributed to Adams & Co. of Pittsburgh, but more recent research suggests that it may have been made by Burlington Glass Works of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Perhaps that's how it got the name “Canadian Drape.” The pattern was first made in the 1870s. After Garfield died, memorial plates in that pattern were made with his bust in the middle. The only connection to Vermont is that Vice President Chester A. Arthur, who became president after Garfield's death, was born in Vermont. Different versions of your plate were made. Some include the words “Born Nov 19, 1831, Shot July 2, 1881, Died Sep 19, 1881.” A colored glass Garfield memorial plate retails for about $75.

Q: My vintage alligator handbag includes the taxidermied head of the alligator. The bag, made in Cuba, was originally purchased at a high-end New York City store. What is it worth?

A: We frequently see alligator-head bags like yours at antiques shows. They sell for about $150 to $200, depending on quality and condition.

Tip: Moths seem to like to eat natural undyed horsehair but, strangely, do not eat dyed hair. Use mothballs and other detergents to protect braided hair-work and stuffed furniture.

Terry Kovel answers as many questions as possible through the column. By sending a letter with a question, you give full permission for use in the column or any other Kovel forum. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We cannot guarantee the return of any photograph, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. The volume of mail makes personal answers or appraisals impossible. Write to Kovels, (Name of this newspaper), King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019.

CURRENT PRICES

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

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